Shrub rose plant named ‘Meigadraz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant is provided which forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis attractive red-purple blossoms commonly bearing approximately 13 to 15 petals. The new variety is a spontaneous mutation of unknown causation of the ‘Radrazz’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,836) that forms vivid red blossoms which commonly display approximately 10 petals. The vegetation is vigorous and the growth habit is bushy and rounded. The foliage is very ornamental, dark green, and semi-glossy and contrasts nicely with the red-purple blossom coloration. Excellent resistance to blackspot is displayed. The new plant is particularly well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growing conditions to form an attractive gift plant.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meigadraz.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida landscape shrub rose plant of thepresent invention was discovered as a branch mutation during June 2000while growing among a block of rose plants of the ‘Radrazz’ variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,836) growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures,Var, France. I was attracted to the new variety primarily because of itsdistinctive red-purple blossom coloration that was unlike that of theparental variety. The new variety is believed to be a spontaneousnaturally-occurring mutation of the ‘Radrazz’ variety of unknowncausation. Had I not discovered and preserved the original plant of thenew variety it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new variety of landscape shrub rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly and substantially continuously forms attractive        red-purple blossoms commonly bearing approximately 13 to 15        petals on average unlike the vivid red blossoms of the ‘Radrazz’        variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,836),    -   (b) exhibits a bushy and rounded growth habit,    -   (c) forms vigorous vegetation,    -   (d) forms attractive very ornamental dark green semi-glossy        foliage, and    -   (e) displays excellent resistance to blackspot.

The new rose variety has a propensity for everblooming combined withblackspot resistance.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom the parental ‘Radrazz’ variety through an inspection of theblossoms. More specifically, the new variety displays red-purpleblossoms having approximately 13 to 15 petals on average rather thanvivid red blossoms having approximately 10 petals on average that aredisplayed by the parental ‘Radrazz’ variety. Also, the new variety ofthe present invention readily also can be distinguished from the‘Radyod’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,700) and the ‘Radcon’ variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,070) which are other mutations of the ‘Radrazz’variety. More specifically, the blossoms of the ‘Radyod’ variety arelight pink, and the blossoms of the ‘Radcon’ variety a darker pink thanthose of the ‘Radyod’ variety. The blossoms of the new variety of thepresent invention are more red-purple, and commonly possess more petalsthan the blossoms of the ‘Radyod’ variety.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry, andis particularly well suited for pot forcing under greenhouse growingconditions to form an attractive gift plant. The red-purple blossomscontrast nicely with the semi-glossy dark green foliage.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France, to be homogeneous and stable and are strictlytransmissible by asexual propagation such as budding, grafting, and theuse of cuttings from one generation to another carried out at suchlocation.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meigadraz’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph of FIG. 1 shows, as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of thischaracter, a typical specimen showing the attractive red-purple flowersof the new variety at various stage of maturity. The rose plants wereapproximately two years of age and were grown in the ground outdoors onRosa froebelii rootstock at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onapproximately two year-old specimens of the new variety during Octoberwhile grown outdoors on Rosa froebelii rootstock at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 50 to 60 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Width.—Approximately 50 to 60 cm on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Habit.—Bushy and rounded.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144B suffused            with Red Group 53D. Adult wood: near Yellow-Green Group            146C.        -   Texture.—Young stems: smooth. Adult wood: smooth.        -   Thorns.—Quantity: commonly approximately 6 on average on 15            cm of young stems, and approximately 5 on average on 15 cm            of adult stems. Size: approximately 1 to 1.5 cm in length on            average on young stems and on adult stems. Configuration:            longish pointed, possess an oval base, curved downwards on            the upper surface, and concave on the under surface. Color:            on young stems near Yellow-Green Group 146C and widely            suffused with Greyed-Purple Group 184A, and on adult stems            near Greyed-Orange Group 166B and 166C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 11 cm on average.        -   Width.—Approximately 8 cm on average.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5, and 7 (most often). Shape: possess            an obtuse base, and an acuminate tip. Size: the terminal            leaflet is approximately 5 cm in length on average and            approximately 2.6 cm in width on average. Margin: single and            fine serration. Texture: smooth. Overall appearance: very            dense, dark green in coloration, and with a semi-glossy            aspect on the upper surface. Color (new foliage): Upper            surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147A suffused with Red            Group 47A. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B.            Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: near Yellow-Green            Group 147A. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 147B.            Petioles: the petiole typically is approximately 1.2 cm in            length on average on the terminal leaflet, on the upper            surface near Yellow-Green Group 144A with some highlights of            Greyed-Purple Group 184A and non-glandular, and on the under            surface near Yellow-Green Group 144A and with a very few            prickles. Stipules: typically approximately 1 to 1.2 cm in            length on average, typically approximately 0.4 cm in width            on average, adnate, pectinate, rather broad, and near Green            Group 137C on the upper surface, and near Green Group 137D            on the under surface.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number flowers.—Commonly approximately 6 to 15 blooms on            average per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Length: typically approximately 2.5 cm on average.            Diameter: typically approximately 0.2 cm on average.            Strength: relatively strong. Texture: typically covered with            small prickles. Color: near Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Sepals.—Length: typically approximately 2 to 2.8 cm on            average. Width: typically approximately 0.6 cm at the widest            point on average. Configuration: slender and pointed with a            few foliaceous appendages. Number: five. Texture: the upper            surface commonly is tomentose, and the under surface            commonly is glandular. Color (upper surface): near Green            Group 138C. Color (under surface): near Green Group 137B and            137C.        -   Buds.—Length: commonly approximately 1 to 1.5 cm on average.            Width: commonly approximately 1 cm on average. Size: medium.            Shape: elongated. Color (upper surface): near Red-Purple            Group 57A and 57B. Color (under surface): near Red-Purple            Group 68B and lightly suffused with Red-Purple Group 68A.            Color (basal petal spot): near Yellow Group 3D.        -   Flower.—Arrangement: imbricated petals. Diameter:            approximately 7 to 8 cm on average. Shape: flat cup-shaped.            Fragrance: none. Petal form: cuneiform with a reflected            apex. Petal number: approximately 13 to 15 on average under            normal growing conditions. Petal length: commonly            approximately 3 cm on average. Petal width: commonly            approximately 2.4 cm on average. Color during course of            opening: Upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 57D, widely            suffused with Red-Purple Group 67C, and lightly suffused            with Red-Purple Group 57B. Under surface: near Red-Purple            Group 68B and lightly suffused with Red-Purple Group 68A.            Basal petal spot: near Yellow Group 3D. Color when open:            Upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 68C suffused with            Red-Purple Group 68B. Under surface: near Red-Purple Group            68D suffused with Red-Purple Group 68B. Basal petal spot:            near White Group 155D on the upper and under surfaces. Petal            texture: smooth. Petaloids: none observed. Anthers: commonly            121 in number on average, approximately 0.1 cm in size on            average, and near Yellow Group 13D in coloration. Pollen:            present and near Yellow Group 13D in coloration. Filaments:            typically approximately 121 on average; regularly arranged            around the styles, commonly approximately 0.6 to 0.8 cm in            length, and near Red Group 42C in coloration. Stigmas:            typically approximately 0.1 cm in size, and near Yellow            Group 13D in coloration. Styles: typically approximately 32            on average; typically approximately 0.2 cm in length on            average, and near Red Group 42C in coloration. Receptacle:            funnel-shaped, slightly glandular on the surface,            approximately 1 cm in length on average and approximately            0.8 cm in width on average, and near Green Group 137C in            coloration. Lasting quality: commonly approximately two            weeks on the plant. Petal drop: very good with the petals            commonly dropping cleanly before drying. Hips: formed in a            sparse quantity and commonly lack seeds, narrow pear-shaped            in configuration, commonly approximately 1 cm in length on            average, approximately 0.8 cm in width at the widest point,            commonly bear a few prickles, and near Green Group 137D in            coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and strong.        -   Blossoming.—Abundant and substantially continuous.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent with respect to blackspot.        -   Propensity to form hips.—Sparsely formed.        -   Resistance to cold.—Has performed well in U.S.D.A. Hardiness            Zone Nos. 4A and 4B.        -   Resistance to heat.—Has maintained active vegetation and            blooming capacity during the summer in U.S.D.A. Hardiness            Zone Nos. 8A and 8B.

1. A new and distinct landscape shrub rose plant which exhibits thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly andsubstantially continuously forms attractive red-purple blossoms commonlybearing approximately 13 to 15 petals on average unlike the vivid redblossoms of the ‘Radrazz’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,836), (b)exhibits a bushy and rounded growth habit, (c) forms vigorousvegetation, (d) forms attractive very ornamental dark green semi-glossyfoliage, and (d) displays excellent resistance to blackspot;substantially as illustrated and described.